PARCHED | ALL YOUR BUBBLY NEEDS SORTED

Champagne is so beloved that it has inspired many tributes and quotes (“Come quick, I am tasting the stars!”), and you can’t really have a party without it (well… maybe, but why would you?!). There are also a bewildering amount of choices, vintages (more of that later) and brands, so where do you start? The following are updated because we’ve had a pretty good bubbly season (we’re including cava, prosecco and sparkling here). And because you deserve the best.

Veuve Clicquot Le Grand Dame Rosé 2006

This tribute to Madame Clicquot was created in 1988 and launched in 1995. Four words describe the style of La Grande Dame Rosé: freshness, silkiness, elegance and spiciness.

The winter was particularly cold and long, but spring was mixed, with good conditions for budding. The summer was chaotic, with an August worthy of late autumn (despite the Botrytis which struck, though it had no impact on the quality of the harvest.)

The Pinot Noir wines are fruity and full-bodied; the Chardonnay wines are of considerable distinction. The red wines of Clos Colin in Bouzy offer a superb balance, with a rich, crisp fleshiness. The upshot is a blend of 53% Pinot Noir and 47% Chardonnay; La Grande Dame Rosé 2006 is obtained by adding 15% red wine produced entirely from Pinot Noir from the commune of Bouzy.

And since Madame Clicquot was the first to create rose, her legacy lives on in this structured and sexy wine, with lovely notes of red fruits and toasted notes of hazelnut and cocoa. Drink now or age for another 15 years…We say drink now – this is quite exquisite.

Best paired with lobster, lamb, pata negra ham, curry, langoustine, sea urchins and truffles.

Krug Les Créations 2004

Krug 2004 Les Creations

This is alimited-edition launch of two expressions, comprising Krug 2004 and Krug Grande Cuvée 160eme Edition. The year 2004 was a combo of crisp winter and chilly spring; May brought a gentle warmth to the region and in late summer the grapes ripened perfectly. The beautiful weather in harvest time made for a generous year, offering more characterful yet mature grapes than any previous harvest.

Krug 2004’s expressive bouquet of ginger, candied citrus and quince is followed by richer notes evoking lemon meringue tart, plum and mirabelle. On the palate, light notes of brioche and honey give way to an array of fresh citrus, including oranges, lemons and mandarins, enhanced by a very elegant finish. And the 160th edition? Round, finesse and elegant, as it has always been for the previous 159 years.

The soundtrack to this is Lianne La Havas. See bottom of page for more on the House of Krug.

Dom Perignon Plenitude Deuxieme P2 2000

Dom Perignon P2 2000 champagne

The second expression of this vintage (first one was 2008) reveals a complex wine with 17 years of maturation. “During this additional ageing period of nine years in the Dom Pérignon cellars, the wine has gained in vigour, crispness and density. It has taken on a new depth, with an added element of revelation and surprise, of coherence and harmony”, says Richard Geoffroy, Chef de Cave Dom Pérignon about the P2 2000. For Dom Perignon, vintage is a way to seek constant improvement, to reinvent each expression, which is presented in several different forms, or ‘Plenitudes’.

This P2 is harmonious, energetic and bursting with light, it is the timpani in an orchestra of champagne, a rousing bubbly that calls attention with its mineral and charred aromas, and its bracing floral notes. It is music you can drink to.

Dom Pérignon P2 2000 is available for purchase in limited quantities through specialist retailers as well as Moet Hennessy Diageo Singapore’s private sales channel.

Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoch Edition Automme 2005

champagne perrier jouet

Perrier-Jouët Cellar Master Hervé Deschamps was so mesmerized by the beauty of autumn that he decided to create a special seasonal cuvée in tribute to the colours of fall with the Belle Epoque Edition Automne 2005. Bringing together a unique blend of chardonnay, pinot noir and pinot meunier, this is a marriage of allure, voluptuousness and vitality that conveys all the elements of this season. This ephemeral cuvée is unique to the Perrier-Jouët brand, the only known champagne house to create bespoke cuvées inspired by the seasons and nature.

Private sale contact sgsales@pernod-ricard.com.sg

Piper-Heidseick Millisime Rare 2002

PIPER-HEIDSIECK RARE MILLESIME 2002 (2)

For those who really need to get to know the inside and out, this vintage is made with a majority of Chardonnays from the Montagne de Reims region (70%) and complemented with Pinot Noir (30%) from the same region. The wine is a blend of 17 crus (crus = group of vineyards), which are matured for over seven years in the house’s cellars. Not just rare, but also a rich viable champagne.

[ Bubblies 101: How To Buy and Prep Champagne ]

Cava Agustí Torelló Mata Kripta Gran Reserva 2008, $127

KRIPTA CAVA

The flagship Kripta Gran Reserva Brut Nature displays a splendid, already complex bouquet of mineral, baking spices, brioche, spring flowers, and green apple. Crisp, dry, vibrant, and full-flavored, it may evolve for a few years but there is no reason to delay gratification. It compares favorably with many of the top vintage Champagnes.

More info and buy from ewineasia here.

Henriot Blanc de Blancs

Henriot

One of my favourite Blanc de Blancs (made only from Chardonnay grapes) and this is from my personal stash. Beautiful notes of honey, with a lingering taste of candied lemon peel and apple.

Ayala Champagne

ayala champagne

This independent producer (now owned by the House of Bollinger) has a proud history, it held the British Royal Warrant for a few years, and was the first house to create dry champagne back in 1865. It now sells 750,000 bottles a year of premium champagne, most notably the Blanc de Blancs, the Rosé Majeur and the Perle D’Ayala, a small quantity cuvee using only Grand Cru grapes.

Every bottle of Ayala Champagne has a disgorgement date on it (written as récemment dégorgé or RD, means the time it is bottled and goes through its second stage of development) and for non-vintage bubbly, you should ideally drink it two-three years after RD. Vintage champagne can of course be kept for ages.

Available at P.S Cafe and all Gordon Ramsay restaurants.

[ Someone Has Invented a Champagne Gun ]

Krug 2002

krug 2002 champagne

We featured this earlier this year, and it’s still one of our favourites. For all you #Kruglovers out there, the house’s champagnes inspire emotions, storytelling and pairings like no other.

Duval-Leroy Champagne

duval-leroy champagne

Some impressive facts from this family-owned vineyard:

They’re still independent. Carol Duval-Leroy has been running the business since the death of her husband Jean-Charles in 1991. The three sons manage the business as well, overseeing 200 hectares they own (each hectare is worth 1.5m Euros), and the other 60% of grapes from other suppliers.

The family produces 5 million bottles a year, and in 1999 celebrated their 150th anniversary. That commemorative Cuvee 150th 1999 bottle is a particularly robust and rich vintage if you can find it.

Mdm Duval-Leroy’s wine maker is also another high-achieving women – Sandrine Logette-Jardin. They bring a distinct feminine touch to the business,and together they create champagnes that are elegant, fresh and exacting. They were also the first house to produce organic champagnes.

Their champagne is known for its minerality and complexity, which makes it perfect for food pairings. In fact, Duvel-Leroy is the gastronomic champagne of choice, featuring in over 250 Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide.

Fleur de Champagne Brut Premier Cru S$98 (currently of offer at S$74*). Brut Nature 2002 $138. Brut Blanc de Blancs 2006 S$108. Cuvee 150th 1999 S$150.00 (very limited). Femme de Champagne 2000 : S$248. Order from Le Vigne

Bollinger Special Cuvee: Brut NV

Bollinger champagne

If it’s good enough for James Bond… Bollinger has been 007’s favourite bubs since Q was just q, and this was named “Special Cuvee” by Jacques Bollinger in 1921 to illustrate that a non-vintage Champagne could be of the same outstanding quality as a tete de cuvee. It’s rich and smoky, with hints of baked apple and honeyed malt. A killer, you might say.

Howard Park Jete Sparkling Wines

Howard Park Jete sparkling wines

The Margaret River, family-owned winery just celebrated their 30th anniversary, and they’re punching above their weight for sure. The Jete range showcases award-winning sparkling wines, especially the Grand Jete (2009 was a “Sparkling Wine of the Year” in 2015). The range includes a Brut Blanc, a Rosé, but the Grand Jete stands out for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blend – done Methodé Traditionelle and is fermented in older French oak.

Available at Enoteca Wine Shop, 1855 The Bottle Shop, Four Seasons Gourmet Market, Crystal Wine Shop and Salt Bar & Grill.

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